Madam,

I am writing in reply to Cllr Ray Quant’s letter in last week’s Cambrian News (18th) where I am accused of inaccurately claiming that a breach of the Borth sea defences occurred. How can he make that claim when he stood with other villagers and myself examining the extent of flooding on that day? Surely sea water flooding onto Borth High Street and into properties as far as the opposite side from the sea constitutes a breach of sea defences?

I am glad that not so many people got flooded this time, but it was only a typical Borth winter storm.

Ceredigion County Council not only said that they would not be provid-ing sandbags but, most importantly, insisted that the sea defences were so good that none would ever be needed as overtopping would only occur once in a hundred years. Serious overtopping three times in two years must be regarded as a failure.

It’s a pity that Ray doesn’t accept my comments about a “cement” that has formed on the beach as there is a photograph of it in the original Cambrian News article, Page 5, 11 February. This is a major component in the flooding, as it forms an impervious layer in patches along the beach, binding the shingle together forming ramps for the sea to run up into and between houses.

Ray states “the volume of water overtopping at the rear of the properties will invariably flow out through the gaps”. Surely, this an admission of a breach of the defences? Unfortunately, we are still relying on the storm-boards and sandbags that we were told by Ceredigion County Council would only be needed in a one in a 100 years storm.

Yours etc.

J W Davies

Borth.